The Nine Bright Shiners

by Anthea Fraser

  Nor had the last week with Roger’s parents been easy. Though he must have warned them not to question her, their obvious anxiety about her marriage added to her own stress. And now she was on her way home, with the problems she’d run away from still awaiting her.

  She sighed, then, seeing Julie’s concerned glance, managed a smile. ‘Glad to be going home?’

  The child nodded, ‘It’s cold in England.’ She paused, ‘Is Daddy coming back to live with us?’

  Jan glanced at Roger across the aisle, knowing from his tenseness that he’d heard the question. They’d had little time for private discussion, but he’d made it clear his brief affair was over, that he’d known it was a mistake from the moment he left home.

  ‘You’d better ask him,’ she said quietly. The child turned to her father, and over her head, Jan’s eyes held his. It would take time to read just to each other, to bury the hurt, but she knew now that she wanted to try. She waited as tensely as her daughter for his reply,

  ‘If you’ll all have me,’ he said.